Members of the Smarter Egg Network come from across the business spectrum, bringing a diverse range of experiences and perspectives. What unites them though is a willingness to engage, to learn and to help each other.
These are their stories.
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Barbara, what is your business about and what is your role?
My business is called Transilient Coaching.
The word Transilient comes from the world of physics and means “moving from one state of being to another”. In essence, that is what my business is about. I help individuals and teams, through coaching and mentoring, to uncover their aspirations and strengths and work towards their better selves.
My logo of a person leaping over stepping stones is exactly the journey a client will make while working through the changes required to perform at a much higher level. It reflects very much my own journey.
As a finance executive in multinationals for the past 25 years, I realised the key to being successful was through people, who if developed and mentored, could and did deliver at far higher and more rewarding levels. The impact to the organization was extraordinary.
That led me to eventually “make the leap” just fourteen months ago, into the world of self-employment, so I could have the freedom to really indulge my passion of helping others get the business results they want.
My “Build your High Performance Team” programme and “Accelerate your Emotional Intelligence” have both been well received by clients. I also work at one-to-one level coaching, which can be very powerful for clients but also very rewarding for me.
Why did you sign up for the Smarter Egg Network?
I initially signed up for the Quarterly Personal Offsite programme because I noticed that although I encourage my clients to take time to talk to me about their strategy and business obstacles, I wasn’t doing the same for myself!
I am passionate about delivering a high quality experience to my clients and that takes time and planning. What I got from the Quarterly Offsite was an excellent format that walked me through my thoughts, to generating plans and actions. Making myself accountable for following through with my actions was the catalyst I needed to move forward. Working alone can be isolating.
Coming back after 3 months to reflect on how the previous quarter has gone, understanding how my plans had played out and planning forward to the next quarter is an invaluable tool for business development.
Surrounded by like minded people from all walks of business provides a supportive and informative forum for discussion of ideas and sharing of knowledge.
So yes, even coaches need to be coached!
What have you learned about yourself in the past year?
The change from a corporate environment to being self-employed has taught me a number of surprising things about myself.
Firstly, I struggle without structure to my week and it has taken me a while to establish that and make sure that I use my time productively and efficiently.
More surprisingly, I found that I have a tendency to procrastinate. Despite being a very decisive leader, now on my own I was putting things off. The Quarterly Offsite was my antidote to this problem – putting accountability and action back into my week.
On the plus side, I love meeting new people, hearing their stories and am constantly astounded at the great businesses people are building in Cork. Such a vibrant business community that I had hardly been aware of before.
What kind of people do you look to collaborate with?
Being in a network like Smarter Egg, there is the opportunity to help and be helped. I enjoy meeting younger entrepreneurs because their energy and optimism is uplifting. I find I have a lot to contribute to those individuals because of my experience and background. People who have business problems are always of interest to me.
Those who want to be better at what they do, who seek self development and who recognise that having a coach can help them achieve what they really want for themselves and their businesses.
Equally I enjoy meeting those who are in business for some time and who can offer advice and usually contacts to help me progress my business.
If you could say to others “You have to read this”, which book would you recommend?
Ooh, tough one! I think “Who moved my Cheese” by Dr. Spencer Johnson.
Change can be difficult and often people would rather stay as they are, even if it is obvious that it isn’t working well. This book helps to put change into perspective and help people to understand it better.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
Between the months of March and September I am a coastal rower with Courtmacsherry Rowing Club – so getting fit for that now! We row in regattas all over Cork and will be heading to Donegal for the All-Ireland. My husband and children are all involved, so it’s a very family oriented sport.
On a more laid back note, I read extensively. I have promised myself this year to make more of the great beaches that surround us in Cork!
What is the most rewarding aspect of your work?
Seeing someone recognise their possibilities, their strengths and their opportunities and knowing that I helped them to do that, gives me huge satisfaction.
Coaching involves asking questions, and sometimes when I ask something that stops my client in their tracks, I know something important is about to be discovered. I really get a buzz from that.
Or having a business owner tell me that results are better, or their staff are happier or more productive because of my intervention reminds me why I left the safe harbour of corporate life!
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You can learn more about Barbara’s work at Transilient Coaching, or you can connect with her right now on LinkedIn!
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The Smarter Egg Network is a platform for high-calibre professionals to collaborate, learn and raise their game. Membership is available to both individuals and organisations.
